HR: 1340h
AN: SH14A-1692 [Abstracts]
TI: The Importance of Using Continuous Solar Inputs in 3D Models to Simulate the Distant Solar Wind and Heliosheath
AU: * Intriligator, D S
EM: devriei@aol.com
AF: Carmel Research Center, P.O. Box 1732, Santa Monica, CA 90406, United States
AU: Detman, T
EM: tmDetman@earthlink.net
AF: NOAA/SEC, 325 Broadway, Boulder, CO 80305, United States
AU: Detman, T
EM: tmDetman@earthlink.net
AF: Exploration Physics International, Inc., 6275 University Dr NW
Suite 37-105, Huntsville, AL 35806, United States
AU: Sun, W
EM: wsun_1939@yahoo.com
AF: Geophysical Institute, University of Alaska, Fairbanks, AK 99775, United States
AU: Rees, A
EM: adam.rees@imperial.ac.uk
AF: Imperial College, Blackett Lab
Prince Consort Rd, London, Eng SW7 2BW, United Kingdom
AU: Horbury, T S
EM: t.horbury@imperial.ac.uk
AF: Imperial College, Blackett Lab
Prince Consort Rd, London, Eng SW7 2BW, United Kingdom
AU: Deehr, C
EM: cdeehr@gi.alaska.edu
AF: Geophysical Institute, University of Alaska, Fairbanks, AK 99775, United States
AU: Dryer, M
EM: Murray.Dryer@noaa.gov
AF: NOAA/SEC, 325 Broadway, Boulder, CO 80305, United States
AU: Dryer, M
EM: Murray.Dryer@noaa.gov
AF: Exploration Physics International, Inc., 6275 University Dr NW
Suite 37-105, Huntsville, AL 35806, United States
AU: Fry, C D
EM: gfry@expi.com
AF: Exploration Physics International, Inc., 6275 University Dr NW
Suite 37-105, Huntsville, AL 35806, United States
AU: Intriligator, J
EM: jamesi@post.harvard.edu
AF: Carmel Research Center, P.O. Box 1732, Santa Monica, CA 90406, United States
AU: Intriligator, J
EM: jamesi@post.harvard.edu
AF: . University of Wales, Brigantia Building, Bangor, Wal LL572AS, United Kingdom
AB:
Solar transients and the background solar wind give rise to asymmetries in the distant solar wind and
heliosheath. Entering continuous solar data into time-dependent, 3D models originating at the Sun is crucial for
accurately characterizing the distant solar wind and the heliosheath. We employ our time-dependent, 3D MHD
(magnetohydrodynamic) model the HHMS - the Hybrid Heliospheric Modeling System - to obtain insights into the
propagation of the solar wind to ACE, Ulysses, and beyond. In addition, we use our quick look tool, the HAFv.2, a
3D, time-dependent kinematic model, to complement the HHMS results. Comparisons of simulations from both
models with spacecraft data show very good agreement.
We present case study results that contrast the significant differences between including and excluding specific
features of models. These case studies illustrate that, in order to obtain a meaningful depiction of the
heliosphere in 3D, it is necessary to use models that take primary solar source data as continuous inputs and
extrapolate phenomena in three dimensions from the solar surface throughout the heliosphere and into the
heliosheath. Models that are limited in their dimensionality (i.e., 1D or 2D), or limited temporally (i.e., non-
continuous input data), or limited in terms of the starting or boundary conditions (e.g., starting at Earth), all lead to
erroneous depictions of the time varying 3D heliosphere. For example, whereas the results from the 3D models
with continuous inputs starting at the Sun agree with observations at Ulysses, even the results from the best 1D
models differ considerably from the observations at Ulysses (e.g. the Halloween 2003 events). 3D modeling a
solar event in isolation and not in the context of the continuous solar inputs leads to a very different longitudinal
distribution of the event and its asymmetries (e.g., the January 2005 events). Modeling the heliospheric latitude
variations in solar wind density starting with observations made at L1 rather than at the Sun leads to erroneous
distributions (e.g. the Halloween 2003 events).
Overall our results emphasize the significant asymmetries in three dimensions within the solar wind throughout
the heliosphere. Moreover, these model and data comparisons provide the context for our studying solar
transients and their effects on energetic particles, galactic cosmic rays, and turbulence in the distant solar wind
and heliosheath.
DE: 2114 Energetic particles (7514)
DE: 2126 Heliosphere/interstellar medium interactions
DE: 2139 Interplanetary shocks
DE: 2149 MHD waves and turbulence (2752, 6050, 7836)
DE: 2164 Solar wind plasma
SC: SPA-Solar and Heliospheric Physics [SH]
MN: 2007 Fall Meeting